In the context of COVID-19, this felt eerily believable, but the story escalates to a point that feels reassuringly speculative, at least for now. The narrator makes lists of people and things to remember as she flees further and further east to get away from a rapidly spreading virus. “Inventory,” one of my favorites, catalogues a series of romantic and sexual encounters set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic United States.

She takes inspiration from folklore and other writers here, turning a familiar scary story into a poignant commentary on the expectations of marriage and a haunting recollection of her protagonist’s attempts to retain her own autonomy from her husband.

To set the mood, Machado opens with “The Husband Stitch,” her own twist on the tale of the girl with the green ribbon. To quote the bookstore employee who rang up my copy, “I wish I could read it again for the first time.” Throughout the collection, Machado expertly weaves multiple genres, uncanny elements, and pop culture references into a deeply compelling read that’s honestly one of the best things I’ve picked up in a long time.

The eight stories in Her Body and Other Parties showcase Machado’s incomparable talent, imbuing timely discourse on the female experience with more than a hint of strangeness. Ethereal and unsettling, Carmen Maria Machado’s 2017 debut collection of short stories brilliantly explores themes of feminine identity and bodily autonomy.

Machado her body and other parties